'Hot.Cool.Yours.' Decoding Russia's Sochi Olympic slogan - CSMonitor.com 'Hot.Cool.Yours.' Decoding Russia's Sochi Olympic slogan Latest News A singing group from Siberia performs during a welcome ceremony for the German Olympic team at the Olympic Village in Krasnaya Polyana. Related View Caption of Each time the Olympic Games roll around, an organizing committee is tasked with distilling the unique character of the event into a punchy slogan. In 2008, Beijing went with “One World, One Dream.” Barcelona's, in 1992, was “Friends Forever." And Russia ’s? Three words, three periods, no spaces in between. “Hot.Cool.Yours.” The motto drew chuckles from observers at home and abroad when it was unveiled in September 2012. USA Today suggested that it sounded more like “the title of Katy Perry's next album” or a “rejected marketing campaign for McDonald's 1980s flop, the McDLT,” which featured the head-scratching tagline "keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool." Recommended: How much do you know about the Winter Olympics?

Sochi organizers helpfully provided an official explanation of the slogan, describing it as “intended to reflect the national character of Russia and the values of the Sochi 2014 brand, as well as Sochi 2014’s progressive and innovative approach to the organization and staging of the Games.” Photos of the Day Photos of the Day 01/17 And the periods between the words? “The dot after each word draws a parallel with high technologies (.ru) and the emblem of the Winter Games in Sochi.” (The logo features a “.ru” addendum to the word “Sochi.”) Does the quirkiness of the slogan have something to do with the vagaries of Russian-English translation? Yes, partially, although it sounds equally awkward in Russian and plenty of Russians were thrown for a loop by its announcement, even if they have since come to embrace it. Below is a quick linguistic tour of the motto. Hot The original word is a bit more colorful in Russian. Translators opted for simplicity, but they lost some of the context.

The Russian adjective zharkie is often used to mean “warm” or “balmy,” with connotations of something that’s too heated – bringing to mind that moment in skiing when you realize you may be wearing a layer too many. Or an old Soviet apartment heated to 90 degrees by a cranked-up radiator. Or, as one Russian commentator wondered when the motto was announced, “You think this might be referring to socks?” To be fair, the Russian word also translates as “heated” – as in “heated competition.” This was probably the shade that organizers were trying to capture, as they explained: “The word ‘Hot.’ reflects the intensity of sporting battle and the passion of the spectators.” The translators’ other objective – to emphasize “the location of the Games, the southern resort city of Sochi” – is somewhat problematic, given that critics have warned that the location isn't wintry enough and may run into weather or snow problems. Cool Again, lost in translation, somewhat. The Russian version uses the word “wintry” (zimniye) instead. That word calls to mind images of snow, ice, and white mountain tops – as opposed to something merely “cool,” weather-wise.

In picking the word, the organizers seemed to be after other English shades of the term. “Cool” stood not only for the Games’ time of the year," said the Sochi Olympics chief executive, Dmitry Chernyshenko, but also “for how Russia is perceived by the rest of the world.” Fair enough. But the result is a dash of cognitive dissonance between hot and cool, temperature-wise. Yours No translation problems here. Yours means yours, in both languages. The word was chosen to indicate that no one is excluded from the party. As Mr. Chernyshenko explained , “The Sochi 2014 slogan demonstrates that it is impossible not to participate, watch, experience, and be proud because this is Your Games." But many Russians, especially those in the political opposition, balked at this non-negotiable offer of a personal stake in a vanity project they regard as corruption-ridden and overpriced. “The [Games] are yours because they’re yours, end of story,” a Russian commentator grumbled in 2012.

“Whether you want to or not, you’re subscribed, and don’t try to bail out.” But with construction completed, and the curtain about to rise on the greatest spectacle ever organized by Russia in modern history, some former skeptics were coming around to the slogan and the spectacle. An opposition blogger recently posted a photo of a gondola full of young, blond female volunteers grinning into the camera with a backdrop of the snowy slopes of Krasnaya Polyana mountain and asked, mockingly, “still want to boycott the Games?” Next up Get the Monitor stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Daily “Hot.Cool.Yours.” – Sochi 2014 slogan announced — RT Sport Tags Olympics , Prime Time Russia , Sochi2014 , Neil Harvey ­The slogan is a “universal solution” that “reflects Russia’s national character, the brand values of Sochi 2014, and also the progressive and innovative approach to organizing and hosting the Games,” the organizing committee said in a statement. Its head Dmitry Chernyshenko says the slogan is aimed to bring more foreigners to Sochi and also make Russians proud.

“The Sochi 2014 slogan says it’s impossible not to take part, impossible not to watch, impossible not to get excited and it’s worth being proud because these are our Games,” he said, stressing that "hot" and "cool" are also references to Sochi's unique sun-and-snow climate. The London 2012 Olympics featured the slogan "Inspire a Generation," while visitors in Vancouver were welcomed "With Glowing Hearts," a line from the national anthem. As for celebrating 500 days until the start of the Games, around 12,000 Olympic volunteers in 17 cities are taking part in the festivities, which will culminate in assembling giant jigsaw puzzles depicting the official pictograms of the 22 Winter Olympic disciplines. Celebrating 500 days before the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi (RIA Novosti / Mikhail Mokrushin) Olympic volunteers flashmob to celebrate the occasion (RIA Novosti / Mikhail Mokrushin) Hot. Cool. Yours: Get ready for Sochi 2014! - Olympic News Hot. Cool. Yours: Get ready for Sochi 2014!

twitter Share The picturesque Black Sea resort of Sochi offers a dynamic natural contrast with its glimmering sea and rugged mountains. The Olympic Review looks at the great anticipation that is building as Russia looks forward to hosting its first Winter Games in 2014. One of the fascinating and positively captivating aspects of the Olympic Games is that no two editions are ever alike; each and every one vastly different with a distinct aura embodying the spirit, culture, norms and geography of the host nation and the region itself. When the International Olympic Committee awarded the XXII Olympic Winter Games to Sochi – a Russian resort stretching along the sprawling shores of the Black Sea with magnificent peaks looming high above – they ventured into uncharted territory, while marking a series of firsts. Sochi 2014 will be the first Winter Games contested in Russia. They will also be one of the most compact in Winter Olympic history, where, for the first time, a purpose-built Olympic Park – referred to as the Coastal Cluster – will be home to all indoor ice competition venues, each within a short stroll of one another.

In addition, Sochi 2014 will open a new chapter in Olympic history as they will be the first Games presided over by the recently elected ninth IOC President, Thomas Bach. In Sochi, skiers, skaters, sledders and snowboarders will entertain and dazzle while pushing their physical limits on snow and ice over 17 days. The programme features a total of 98 events in seven sports, including 12 new events that will make their Olympic debut. Over 2,500 athletes from more than 80 nations are expected to compete. Sochi’s Coastal Cluster is comprised of five purpose-built arenas and the splendid 40,000-capacity Fisht Olympic Stadium, where the Opening and Closing ceremonies will be held. The visually stunning stadium is the first large-scale structure in Russia with a translucent polycarbonate roof, with the unique design of the venue allowing many spectators in the future to enjoy views of both the Caucasus Mountains in the north and the Black Sea to the south while in their seats. Board a high-speed train in Sochi and in about 40 minutes you will be in the vastly contrasting surroundings of the Western Caucasus Mountains, home to the Mountain Cluster.

All outdoor snow sport events, as well as the sliding events of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton, will be contested at the five venues, which are all in close proximity and situated just above the colourful mountain village of Krasnaya Polyana and the Mzymta River, which flows through it. The new venues in the Coastal and Mountain Clusters have already hosted elite sporting competitions, with many staging World Cup events during the 2012/13 season, enabling Sochi 2014 organisers to test key Games-time operations. Dmitry Chernyshenko, the President and CEO of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, spoke to Olympic Review about Russia’s final preparations for the rapidly approaching Olympic Winter Games. “Our focus now is on operational readiness,” says Chernyshenko. “Operational readiness training is underway and we are putting the experience gained during the test events to good use to ensure Russia’s first Winter Games are truly memorable for everyone involved.” Come February, all those preparations will become a reality and nowhere will the intensity be more heated than at the Bolshoi Ice Dome, where ice hockey stars will clash feverishly.

Expectations will be lofty for the hosts, as Russian icons Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk seek to lead their nation to its first Olympic gold medal as an independent nation (although Russian players did feature prominently in the Unified Team that won gold in Albertville in 1992). Formidable opponents to Russia will include the defending Olympic champions Canada, the 2013 World Champions Sweden, a hard-working and opportunistic United States squad, perennial hockey powers Finland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, in addition to an ever-improving, cohesive group from Switzerland. Figure skating, which will be on display at the aesthetically pleasing Iceberg Skating Palace, will be among the most anticipated sports. Russian skaters, especially in pairs, will strive to uphold the country’s rich history and tradition in the sport. Three-time reigning world champion Patrick Chan of Canada will be aiming to become his country’s first men’s individual figure skating gold medallist, while the affable Yuna Kim, from the Republic of Korea , is determined to defend her Olympic gold medal in what she says will be her final competitive season.

Alpine skiing will be among the showcase sports, with races taking place on the slopes of the Rosa Khutor Alpine Centre – a world-class ski resort packed with exceptional terrain and a summit elevation of 2,320 metres at Rosa Peak. Rosa Khutor has been equipped with one of the most expansive snow-making systems in the world and is poised to become the largest ski resort in Russia. Racers kick out of the gate with the signature men’s downhill on Sunday 9 February, just two days after the Opening Ceremony. The world’s elite downhillers will descend at incredible speeds, while testing their technical skills and endurance on the energy-sapping 3,500-metre long track designed by Olympic champion Bernhard Russi. Boasting a humongous vertical drop of 1,075 metres, the Rosa Khutor downhill course will keep racers at their threshold with four spectacular jumps, some launching competitors more than 50 metres down the mountain. The challenging course was first tested during an FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in February 2012, receiving praise from the tour’s leading racers, including the USA’s five-time Olympic medallist Bode Miller .

“The set-up of the hill is good, the jumps are awesome – they’re huge, but they have good steep landings and straight take-offs so I think it sets up for a great natural downhill,” said the veteran American racer after his descent of the Rosa Khutor course. “The reality is that a downhill should be a challenge. If it doesn’t challenge athletes then you won’t see their best and an Olympic downhill has to be the real thing.” In men’s Alpine skiing, Austrian wunderkind Marcel Hirscher, Norwegian ace Aksel Lund Svindal and “Mr. Giant Slalom” Ted Ligety of the United States should lead the chase for medals in Sochi. On the women’s side, 2012-13 overall World Cup champion Tina Maze of Slovenia comes off a stellar record-breaking season and possesses the talent, versatility and drive to medal in four or possibly five events. Twelve new events, meanwhile, were added to the Olympic programme in Sochi, with ski halfpipe, ski slopestyle, snowboard slopestyle and snowboard parallel slalom sure to receive high marks from the younger generation of Olympic enthusiasts.

Female ski jumpers will take flight at the RusSki Gorki Jumping Center under the lights on 11 February, setting yet another Olympic Games precedent, as the women compete for the first time in a sport that has been contested among men since the inaugural Winter Games in 1924 . Biathlon mixed relay, the figure skating team event and the luge team relay will showcase athletes of both genders competing together on one team – another first in Sochi. At the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park – the joint venue for freestyle skiing and snowboarding – eight of the 20 medal events will be contested at night under the lights. The stylish venue was designed with six courses sharing two finish areas. “It is the best venue that I’ve ever seen in my life,” said US moguls world champion Patrick Deneen. “Having this moguls course, halfpipe and aerials coming into the same stopping area is really, really cool.” Just a short walk from the halfpipe, moguls and aerials finishing area, ski and snowboard slopestyle – in which competitors will attempt a wide array of creative tricks while navigating various jib features and jumps – and ski and snowboard cross will certainly entertain.

Thrills and spills are guaranteed when ski and snowboard cross racers tear down the mountain while shoulder-to-shoulder, along a course packed with banked turns, rolls, a slew of jumps and other tricky terrain. Canadian skier Kelsey Serwa, winner of last winter’s ski cross test event at Rosa Khutor, offered her thoughts about the 1121-metre Olympic piste: “The course is awesome. We’re running on the snowboard track, which is proving to be good and there are some big jumps with long landings, which is really nice.” “We have thoroughly tested our sports venues and infrastructure, as well as our procedures for interaction with the different teams on the ground,” says Chernyshenko. “The test events were a fantastic dress rehearsal for next year.” Paramount to the overall success of any Olympic Games is the host city’s volunteer programme. In Sochi, nearly 25,000 volunteers will be doing their part to help ensure that athletes, officials and visitors enjoy a memorable 17 days. Efrosinia Bondarchuk, 23, is a Sochi volunteer who has made her presence felt at numerous test and countdown events over the past few years.

The recent graduate of Kuban State University from nearby Krasnodar is thankful for the opportunity. “It has been a good start for my future career,” says Bondarchuk. “Maybe it is the only chance in my lifetime to meet all these people and get this knowledge and experience. I have made many friends from all around the world. “It will be a unique experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of such a very important event.” Ahead of the Games, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay is set to become the longest in Winter Olympic history. Having begun its domestic journey in Moscow on 7 October, approximately 14,000 torchbearers will have carried the flame over 65,000 kilometres, through 83 regions of Russia, before the cauldron is lit at the Opening Ceremony on 7 February in Sochi. Along its 123-day journey, the nearly one-metre tall, 1.8kg chrome torch – which is adorned with red detail – will travel by car, train, plane, reindeer sleigh and Russian troika, passing through around 2,900 towns and cities.

“The torch descended to the bottom of Lake Baikal, rose to the top of Mount Elbrus, visited the North Pole and even flew into space,” says Chernyshenko. “We will really amaze the world.” In November, the Olympic torch travelled into outer space. At the International Space Station (ISS), Russian cosmonauts took the unlit torch on an unprecedented spacewalk. In yet another Olympic first, the three mascots representing Sochi 2014 were selected by a public vote during a live television broadcast in Russia. The polar bear, hare and leopard will warmly welcome athletes, guests and visitors to Sochi. The Sochi 2014 Cultural Olympiad has also been successfully engaging the Russian public’s interest in the Games, with millions of people across the country participating in a wide range of cultural events since the launch in 2010, including concerts, festivals, shows, films, exhibitions, and art installations – each offering the best that Russia’s cultural scene has to offer. Sochi 2014 organisers have also been looking beyond the Games, to ensure that the region enjoys lasting benefits from hosting the Games.

“We’ve dedicated ourselves to thinking long-term, to focus on a true Games legacy that will not only rejuvenate the city of Sochi, but will also contribute to the economic, cultural and environmental development of the Krasnodar region,” explains Chernyshenko. In addition to the construction of several permanent sporting venues that will bring further elite events to Sochi, the city’s infrastructure has also been significantly upgraded as a result of the Games, with new railways, roads and hotels all built and thousands of jobs created. Come 7 February, however, it will be the Games themselves that take centre stage on what should be a stirring evening in Sochi with the eyes of the world watching, as IOC President Bach officially declares open the XXII Olympic Winter Games. International Olympic Committee founder Pierre de Coubertin said, “Holding an Olympic Games means evoking history.” The city of Sochi will do exactly that: reaching the crescendo of its long journey toward hosting these Games when the magic of the Olympic flame arrives and the cauldron is lit on a spirited February evening.

As is the beauty of the Olympic Games, ultimately, it will be the intensely driven, fervently passionate, immensely talented and vastly diverse athletes from around the globe, that are the artists who paint history on Sochi’s Olympic canvas. Bondy's Winter Olympics Diary: Sochi is cool... hot... yours! - NY Daily News Winter Olympics Diary: Sochi is cool... hot... yours! Bondy's Winter Olympics Diary: Sochi is cool... hot... yours! Snowflakes transform into Olympic rings, but one seems to be having a technical difficulty. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, February 7, 2014, 9:43 PM SOCHI, Russia − The official slogan at these Olympics is “Hot. Cool. Yours.” It makes no sense at all − which is why it’s my favorite Olympic slogan ever. I will be saying, “Hot. Cool. Yours,” for the next four years, randomly, right up until my retirement date, exactly one day before the next Winter Games in Korea. I hate the IOC for choosing PyeongChang instead of Annecy, France.

I was dreaming about three weeks in the Alps, and instead they pick a 16-hour flight to another lousy time zone − and another place where you definitely don’t want to be a stray dog. The joke around here in Sochi: When they say they’re making the bed in your room, they’re really still making it. In the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished department, I helped my sister teach an elementary school newspaper class, then downloaded a newspaper template for her that had hidden adware. Now my laptop is all messed up, and I didn’t even go anywhere near a porn site. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. The New York Times traditionally posts its lengthy newspaper clippings on the wall outside its decadent Olympics office, but has stopped doing so this year. I can only imagine that editors there have finally become ashamed of their writers’ work and realized they are being embarrassed again by The News’ intimidating O-Team. The cowardly Evil Post and Dolan’s Newsday didn’t even bother showing up. Steve Politi from the Newark Star-Ledger came and headed straight to a gay bar − not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I’m working so hard I’ve literally worn the letters right off my keyboard (see pathetic photo on live blog). Don’t order: Pizza. They microwave it. Might as well boil the thing. Do order: Mushroom pancake. Hot. Cool. Yours. Hot. Cool. Yours. – Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics – CHC Blog Official Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics website The XXII (22nd) Winter Olympics Games are start on Friday February 7th and run until Sunday February 23rd. An estimated three billion TV viewers throughout the world will be watching the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, according to The Embassy of the Russian Federation website . With fascination about the location of the games, and the winter sports themselves, along with a variety of new events, anticipation for the 2014 Olympics has been growing. Have you ever heard of Sochi, Russia? It is actually a pretty interesting city.

Facts about Sochi Longest city in Russia (92 miles) First time Russia will host the Winter Olympics, but the Soviet Union (USSR) hosted the 1980 Summer Olympic Games in Moscow Population approximately 400,000, representing 100 nationalities Known for its unique combination of Mediterranean and Alpine climate because of its location – on the shore of the Black Sea and at the foot of the Western Caucasus mountain region Over two million tourists visit Sochi each year According to Forbes magazine, Sochi ranked as best city to do business in Russia in 2012 2014 Winter Olympics Games photo credit: Daniel Peckham via photopin cc The slogan for the Sochi 2014 Olympics is Hot. Cool. Yours. According to Sochi 2014 President and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko, the slogan is about Russia.

He explained in a USA Today article , “‘Hot’ indicates sports passions and the Games’ venue… ‘Cool’ stands for the time of the year and for how Russia is perceived by the rest of the world, and ‘Yours’ means shorter distances and the inclusive nature of the event.” There will be 15 disciplines of the 7 winter sports: Biathlon Fun Facts about the Winter Olympic Sports Enjoy some of exciting and noteworthy facts about the 15 Olympics sports!

Alpine Skiing – First became part of the Winter Olympics in 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Biotholon – originated in the ancient hunting practices of northern Europe Bobsleigh – entered in the Winter Olympics in 1924 in Chamonix, France Cross-Country Skiing – first Olympic Winter Game in Chamonix, France in 1924, included men’s cross- country skiing on 18 km (about 11 miles) and 50 km (about 31 miles) courses Curling – originated in Scotland in the sixteenth century where it was first played in the winer on frozen ponds, marshes and lakes Figure skating – oldest ‘discipline’ in the Winter Olympics Freestyle skiing – first appeared as a demonstration event at the Calgary, Canada 1988 Olympics Winter Games Nordic Combined – 1924 in Chamonix, France is when it became part of the Olympic Winter games Ice Hockey – Origins of ice hockey is still debated but modern form of the game was taken to North America by the English Luge – French word for sled and historical discoveries point to the use of sleds as early as AD 800 by Vikings

 in the Slagen countryside near the Oslo Fjord Short Track Speed Skating – first introduced as a full medal sport in 1992 at Albertville, France Skeleton – originated from descending down the mountains in a toboggan – a wooden sleigh without runners common among Canadian Indians Ski Jumping – part of the Olympic program since the first winter Olympics games in Chamonix in 1924 Snowboard – skater wear skin-tight racing suits with hoods to reduce air resistance Speed Skating – Men’s speed skating was first included in the Olympic Winter Games in 1924 Let us know what events you are excited to see and who is your favorite Olympics athlete.

From Russia with Sport: 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi | EDSITEment Features: Art & Culture From Russia with Sport: 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi "Most other competitions are individual achievements, but the Olympic games is something that belongs to everybody."—Scott Hamilton, American figure skater and Olympic Gold medalist This February the world turns its eyes to Sochi, Russia, the site of the 2014 Wintertime Olympics , with some events located in the neighboring town of Krasnaya Polyana. For two weeks, from February 7 through February 23, the 2014 Winter Games will be played out on site, broadcast over the airwaves, and transmitted through the digital realm. Encompassing over 85 nations, spectators will witness more than 2500 athletes competing in 98 separate events in this international sporting exhibition unlike any other. Television viewership for this year’s Games is expected to exceed the 190 million who tuned in to watch the Winter Olympics of 2010.

The size of this year’s audience will swell dramatically with those who will be following the action on the Internet and through social media networks such as Facebook and twitter. How does Sochi, Russia, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics, offer a special context for the Games? Russia Plays Host Two thousand fourteen marks the first time the Olympics have been held in Russia since the breakup of the USSR and the first time a Russian city has been the venue for the Winter Games. Introduce students to this host country with the PBS documentary The Face of Russia . Have them consider the following questions: Who are the Russian people? How have they expressed their character and inner conflicts in their art and culture? And, as Russia’s democracy continues to develop, how have the Russian people redefined themselves culturally, spiritually, and politically? An interactive timeline tracks the chronology of Russian culture through ten centuries of art, architecture, music, dance, and cinema. A glossary provides definitions of Russian words, a bibliography and Web links list additional resources, and lesson plans offer activities about Russian culture for elementary through high school grades. Finally, for a bit of added interest, the site’s Cyrillic alphabet indicates the English transliteration of the alphabet.

Delve deeper into Russian history from 1453–1825 with the NEH-funded online exhibit Russia Engages the World , from the New York Public Library. Trace Russia’s movement from relative isolation to global empire through its contacts with Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Peer into a “window on Europe,” the city of St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great in 1703 as a symbol of Russia’s new direction, and explore the significant role this new cosmopolitan capital played in the country’s evolution. Uncover the backstory on Russia’s 20th-century incarnation as the Soviet Union within EDSITEment-reviewed Seventeen Moments in Soviet History . This website offers texts, images, maps, and audio and video materials from the Soviet era (1917–1991): all translated into English. Find materials about Soviet propaganda, politics, economics, society, crime, literature, art, dissidents, and hundreds of other topics. You can extend students’ cultural knowledge even further with EDSITEment’s The Magical World of Russian Fairy Tales for a close reading of several Russian stories, including The Story of Baba Yaga, the iconic witch of Slavic folklore.

Then compare and contrast these Russian folktales with their western European counterparts. Additional background on the Russian people can be tapped in EDSITEment-reviewed Bucknell's Russian Studies Department ’s multi-layered reference on the history, culture, and language of the country. Sochi: “Hot.Cool.Yours.” (Russian: Жаркие. Зимние. Твои.) Sochi Olympic slogan Geographically Sochi is an interesting venue choice for the Winter Games. Located on the coast of the Black Sea near the border between Georgia/Abkhazia and Russia, its subtropical climate makes it one of the few places in the country that enjoys warm summers and mild winter temperatures. Because of this, Sochi has become Russia’s largest and most popular resort city. It was established as a fashionable vacation getaway in Stalin’s era and later emerged as the unofficial summer capital of the country. Eleanor Roosevelt made a stop in Sochi on her month long tour of Russia in 1957.

Her Autobiography states, “My trip to the Soviet Union was one of the most important, most interesting, and most informative I have ever made.” Roosevelt writes of the 50 sanitariums sponsored by trade unions and the government-run industries she observed operating in the region of Sochi: At Sochi there is a remarkable arrangement that permits either men or women workers going to the sanatoriums to take along their spouses, but at extra cost. I saw many husbands and workers enjoying the beautiful beaches at Sochi lying in the sun or swimming. The people spend much time and thought preparing for their holidays; in fact, I never realized how important vacations were until I heard them discussed so fervently in the Soviet Union. (“In the Land of the Soviets,” The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt) This year Sochi is putting its own distinctive stamp on the Games with its unique design for the new Olympic medals coined for the event winners. The medals contain a patchwork quilt pattern arranged in the form of a mosaic that represent the various cultures and ethnicities of the Russian Federation. The surface of the medal is meant to convey the winter sun reflecting through the crystal snowy mountains overlooking the Black Sea resort beaches.

The front features the Olympic rings; the reverse contains the name of the competition in English and the logo of the Sochi Games; and the rim is engraved with the official name of the Games in Russian, English, and French. Each medal weighs between 460 and 531 grams, depending on the metal used—gold, silver, or bronze—and are 10mm thick and 100mm in diameter. In total, about 1,300 medals have been manufactured for the Sochi 2014 Games. There has been a great deal of buzz about Sochi’s Olympic Winter Games slogan: “Hot.Cool.Yours.” No spaces should be inserted between the words in this first Olympic emblem that also forms a web address. The motto is meant to actively encourage dialogue between Russians, nations, and winter sports fans—particularly young people—facilitated by Sochi 2014's online platforms. The succinct wording reflects current trends in texting and is meant to imply movement, evolution and progress forward. Each word carries special significance. “Hot” conveys the intensity of competitive sport and the passion of the spectators. “Cool” mirrors the winter context and alludes to stereotypical perceptions of Russia.

“Yours” symbolizes personal involvement and is an invitation to the world to share in the achievements and the sense of pride created by the Games. — Back to Top — Winter Games: Then and Now Over the years the Winter Olympic Game venues have extended across the world to include host countries from Sweden to Canada. Understandably, the Winter Olympics have never been held in the Southern hemisphere. EDSITEment’s Thinkfinity-partner National Geographic Education takes students behind the scenes of the 2014 winter games and offers a reference guide to each of the events to help students better understand the skills and disciplines necessary to compete to this level. Divided into 14 sports (15 if skeleton is counted as a separate sport from bobsleigh), and as some sports have multiple disciplines, these events are further subdivided into men’s and women’s competitions, relay competitions, and races of different distances. The events in Sochi will take place in two main venues, nicknamed the “Mountain Complex” and the “Coastal Complex.” Women’s figure skating has traditionally been one of the most popular Winter Olympic events. Looking back at the history of the sport in the United States, students can observe how this event has evolved over the years.

Figure skating was the first winter Olympic event to appear in the Summer Olympics in London in 1908. In those early Games, there were events for pairs and singles, just as there are today. NEH-funded 1968 Exhibit , reflects on the 1968 Winter Olympics held in Grenoble, France, where America’s sweetheart Peggy Fleming took home gold in the figure skating competition. Fleming's win became the first in an unbroken streak of medals for American women skaters that extended down to the Winter Games in 2006. Her performance is the stuff of legend, and is available on YouTube . Watching it today, one is struck by the marked difference between the style of figure skating then—classic, balletic, and graceful—and the 21st-century style of competition, when this event has come to be dominated by power, speed, and athletic jumping. Ice hockey is another traditional favorite of the Winter Games with an interesting history . It has evolved considerably since the men’s tournament was first introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games and became a permanent fixture at the Winter Games in 1924.

In July 1992, the International Olympic Committee voted to approve women's hockey as an Olympic event; the women’s tournament was first included at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Olympic hockey competition was originally intended for amateur athletes and only after extensive controversy were National Hockey League players finally eligible to compete in 1998. From 1924 to 1988, the tournament started with a round-robin series of games and ended with the medal round. Medals were awarded based on points accumulated during that round. Since then, the Olympic competitions are overseen by the International Ice Hockey Federation , whose rules differ slightly from the NHL. — Back to Top — Backstories With our partners in the Thinkfinity consortium, EDSITEment offers a variety of lessons on subjects relating to the Winter Olympics . Engage your student with these fascinating backstories to uncover the history, science and geography behind the Winter Olympic sporting competitions. The Lingua File: "Hot.Cool.Yours." What Does Sochi's Motto Even Mean? Monday, February 10, 2014 "Hot.Cool.Yours." What Does Sochi's Motto Even Mean?

Although I enjoyed the opening ceremony and over the weekend I've been immersed in a variety of winter sports that I wouldn't usually watch, one thing about the Sochi games has been niggling in the back of my mind. What does "Hot.Cool.Yours." even mean? Whilst each word is separated by a full-stop (or period) it is very odd to have no spacing after each one. Why couldn't it have been written as "Hot. Cool. Yours."? This seems even weirder given that the Russian version appears to have been rendered as "Жаркие. Зимние. Твои.", complete with spaces. Aside from the painfully poor spacing in the English version, let's have a look at the words. Initially, like most English speakers, we will look solely at the English translation as they will have no access to or understanding of the Russian language. "Hot" or "Жаркие" What does hot mean? It clearly can't refer to temperature. These are the winter games, after all. The events take place on ice and snow, so it can't be temperature. Does hot mean sexy?

Sure, there are a lot of events where aerodynamics are key and as a result, skin-tight clothing is required. Regardless of your sexual preference, there is certainly a good amount of "eye candy" on display. However, we doubt this is what the marketing team were going for. In fact, the Russian word "Жаркие" does refer to both heat and passion. The heat is apparently in reference to the heated competition and the passion of the games. "Cool" or "Зимние" As cool can refer to temperature and how fashionable something is, we're fairly happy with its inclusion as a fragment in this mantra of a motto. When the motto was announced, many preferred translating " Зимние" as "wintry". For me, "Hot.Wintry.Yours." is just as confusing and ambiguous as the official translation. The Opening Ceremony at Sochi. "Yours" or "Твои" It seems that everyone, including the organisers and even the internet, is in agreement that "Твои" simply means "yours". Apparently this is because the games are "ours". As a Brit, I'm not so sure that the games are "ours", even if we are aiming for a record medal haul.

Whilst we could hope that "Жаркие. Зимние. Твои." is really clever and awesome in Russian and the English translation is just simply missing the beautiful nuances of the source language, it seems that some Russians think it's just as stupid as I do. Sorry Sochi, we're really enjoying the games and the opening ceremony was cool, but we just can't deal with "Hot.Cool.Yours.". Posted by Sochi releases Olympic slogan that is neither hot, nor cool, nor properly spaced Sochi releases Olympic slogan that is neither hot, nor cool, nor properly spaced By Chris Chase , USA TODAY Updated Sochi celebrated 500 days until the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics with a national sports festival, various flash mobs and the release of the official slogan for the upcoming Games, "Hot.Cool.Yours." That's spaced properly, by the way. Sochi 2014 president and CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko explained that the slogan is about a diverse Russia, then launched into a word-by-word exegesis of the phrase. "'Hot' indicates sports passions and the Games' venue, he said.

"'Cool' stands for the time of the year and for how Russia is perceived by the rest of the world, and 'Yours' means shorter distances and the inclusive nature of the event." Double meanings! Brilliant! What a neat slogan, with "neat" indicating that the slogan is both orderly and cool. We could have used an explanation on why there are no spaces between the words, but we'll settle for having all the venues completed in time. Wordplay aside, "Hot Cool.Yours." may be Somewhat.Edgy but it sounds nothing like an Olympic motto. It's more like: 1. A failed Stuart Scott catchphrase. 2, Rejected marketing campaign for McDonald's 1980s flop, the McDLT. ("Keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool," was the actual one.) 3. The title of Katy Perry's next album. The good news is that this is probably the last you'll ever hear of it. Do you know what London's Olympic slogan was? Neither does anyone else. Slogans like this are marketing gimmicks designed to get Sochi's 500-day countdown some ink in newspapers and on websites.

(So, good job, Sochi. You win.) The slogan will be used in the lead-up to the Games and throughout the event, but you probably won't notice. London's slogan was "Inspire a Generation," by the way. Vancouver had "With Glowing Hearts." Beijing went with "One World, One Dream." They were all properly punctuated. Still, none of them made sense and none were heavily used in the international branding on the Games. Expect the same for "Hot.Cool.Yours." And by the way: "With Glowing Hearts? That doesn't make sense on any level unless it was the tagline for an Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom sequel PREVIOUS Sochi 2014 Organising Committee reveals its slogan - Olympic News Sochi 2014 Organising Committee reveals its slogan twitter Share As Russia celebrated the milestone of 500 days to go until Sochi 2014 this week, the Organising Committee released details of the Games’ slogan: “Hot. Cool. Yours.” The slogan aims to reflect both the national character of Russia and the values of Sochi 2014 , by being dynamic and constant. “Hot.

Cool.” form the dynamic part of the slogan as these words can be used in a range of individual advertising campaigns to promote the Olympic event. They also symbolise movement, evolution and moving forward. "Hot." also reflects the intensity of sporting battle and the passion of the spectators. The word "Cool." references the fact that these are Winter Games, and alludes to traditional perceptions of Russia around the world. “Yours.”, however, is constant – it will provide continuity across campaigns and develops the brand communication that Sochi 2014 is “my Games”. It also symbolises personal involvement and invites everybody to share in the achievements and the sense of pride created by the Games. The President of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee , Dmitry Chernyshenko, noted: “The slogan of the Winter Games in Sochi, in my opinion, very successfully captures the diversity of Russia’s national character, and the very personal nature of this Games. The Sochi 2014 slogan demonstrates that it is impossible not to participate, watch, experience and be proud because this is Your Games.” Daily chart: Hot. Cool. Huh? | The Economist Hot. Cool. Huh? by J.S., S.N.

and P.K. Add this article to your reading list by clicking this button Tweet The evolution of the winter Olympics THE winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, has as its motto “Hot. Cool. Yours.” Odd, yes. But explainable. The organisers want to attract younger viewers and to broaden the games’ appeal to more countries. (The gold-medal rankings teem with places like tiny Norway that excel at numerous, esoteric events). This year's 12 new events were chosen partly because they attract lots of YouTube views and Twitter followers. They include the ski half-pipe (tricks in a snowy half-dome to pumping music) and snowboard slopestyle (a 655-metre mountain course combining stunts in the air, rails and very high jumps). Over the past 60 years the number of events has snowballed to 98, of which 20 “cool” ones have been added since 1992. Our story from this week’s issue is here .

Question: What was 'Hot, Cool, Yours' in early 2014?
Answer: Sochi Winter Olympics